How to get CPE Credit through CACLUBINDIA

This article is all about the CPE Credit, but the article is more connected with
the CPE credit hours of unstructured learning.

Chromaticity of the professional of chartered accountants is because of their
knowledge and diversified working style. This is a high dignity and globally
recognised profession as its not like other professions where there is no need
to update the related knowledge after getting the degree; a chartered accountant
should learn continuously even after getting the CA degree. Therefore, the
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Committee of ICAI has introduced a
scheme for Continuing Learning Requirements to be quantified in term of CPE
credit hours for the rollingperiod of three years starting from
the calendar year 2008.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Requirements

Practicing Chartered Accountant (except those members who are residing abroad or
other otherwise exempted CA), are required to complete:

At least 90 CPE hours in each rolling three-year period of which 60 CPE credit
hours should be of structured
learning.

At least 45 CPE hours of structured/unstructured
learning in each rolling 3 years period.

Minimum 10 CPE hours of structured/unstructured
learning in each year.

It means for rolling period of 3 years, maximum of 30 CPE credit hours of
unstructured learning are usefulto accomplish the above requirement
for a practicing CA, although there is no maximum limits for accumulating credit
of CPE hours from any of above mode.

On the other side, a chartered accountant in job can complete his CPE credit
hours requirement through any of structured or
unstructured learning mode.

Structured learning mode

The
structured learning program is being organized by the ICAI and its committees
where credit of CPE hours are being set on some rules based on type of organized
program, e.g. recent international conference in Agra; weekly, bi-weekly or
monthly meetings in branches etc.

The credit for this type of learning is being given automatically, if a CA is
present in the organized program.

Unstructured learning mode

Unstructured
learning (ULAs) program is divided in eight types of major activities:

1.
Web Based

2.
Self learning

3.
Home Study

4.
Discussion on technical issues

5.
Acting as faculty

6.
Teleconferencing program

7.
Questionnaires/Journals

8.
Internal Training Program

The CPE Credit thru this mode is available for any correspondence course;
listening Audio CDs purchased from ICAI; Reading and Individual Home Study
including reading articles in the CA Journal, reading technical, professional,
financial or business literature; Group or bilateral discussion on
technical/professional issues; working as a faculty member in any college,
university or a management or national importance institution; internal training
program organized by CA firm with more then 6 partners.

Claiming CPE Credit hours of unstructured learning

A chartered accountant can claim CPE credit hours of unstructured learning
activity (ULA) through self declaration form, available at ICAI website and
caclubindia portal. Within 5 Months of close of a calendar year (e.g. For
calendar year 2009 form can be submitted upto 31.05.2010) duly filled-in and
signed self declaration form to be submitted to the concerned Decentralized
Offices and On the basis of Self Declaration submitted by the Members, the
concerned Decentralized Offices would enter the CPE Hours Credit on the CPE
Portal under the Head Unstructured Learning Activities (ULAs).

However, the CPE Advisorycan accept, reject, or reject partly, the said claim.

Documentation Is it needed ?

The Chartered Accountants would be required to fulfil the documentation
requirements as mentioned in this advisory, to avail respective CPE Credits. The
Members would also be required to maintain and retain proper records of ULAs
undertaken by them, i.e. Type of unstructured activity, topic, date and the
number of CPE hours requested by them.

How I got the CPE credit

I would like to share my experience of getting CPE credit for the expert
opinions provided in EXPERT Section of
www.caclubindia.com.

I have sent my claim for CPE credit through Self Declaration Form to the nearest
branch of ICAI. In that form, I have claimed 12 hours of answering CPE Credit
for the 455 queries related to chartered accountants fraternity during calendar
year 2008 and my claim has been approved by the ICAI, CPE Committee.

I thank to ICAI for giving recognition by extending CPE credit hours to me for
this activity and sharing of knowledge through e-initiative. The ICAI is created
a new path for the professional development of the members by this act.

I evince CA PARIVAR to share the knowledge between members and students
through the especially designed, well equipped, finely presented CACLUBINDIA
portal.

I reckon that sharing and gaining the knowledge was never so fruitful and I
would like to request to all the members of CACLUBINDIA, who are chartered
accountants, to claim only unfeigned CPE credit of unstructured learning, so
that we can put forward for recognition to CACLUBINDIA from the ICAI for this
mode of CPE Credit. The chartered accountants are required to indicate the time
devoted to the ULAs in the areas that are related or relevant to the profession,
in the Self Declaration Form.

Now, I drop my pen down by expressing my special thanks to Admin and tech-team
of
www.calubindia.com
for providing such a nice platform for streaming the knowledge. And I also thank
to members of the portal for devising
www.caclubindia.com a very big knowledge exchange portal.